What is Safe Zone?

The New School is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for all members of the university community inclusive of race, ethnicity, national origin, culture, language, gender and gender expression, sexuality, religious and political beliefs, age, and ability. The university stands against all forms of discrimination and oppression, whether directed against individuals or groups.

The New School Safe Zone program assembles a voluntary network of faculty, staff, and student advocates to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, and gender nonconforming (LGBTQIAGNC) community, creating a safe and supportive campus environment.

After introductory Safe Zone training, students, faculty, and staff can display a Safe Zone sign on their lockers, desks, backpacks, or office doors. This signifies support for LGBTQIAGNC people and identifies those who display the sign as advocates and/or allies who can be safely approached for support or guidance. To be trained or receive more information about Safe Zone, email safezone@newschool.edu or call 212.229.1671, option 4.

The Safe Zone team publicizes the program, distributes materials, and provides introductory training to those who wish to become involved, and educates the larger community about the meaning of the signs and the importance of building safe and inclusive spaces for all students.

Goals

To educate and empower New School students, staff, and faculty members to serve as advocates and/or allies to members of the university community who identify as LGBTQIAGNC

To ensure that members of the New School community are treated with respect—inclusive of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or ability

To educate students, staff, and faculty on how to create a supportive atmosphere in which LGBTQIAGNC members of the university community feel that they can safely express themselves

To educate students, staff, and faculty on how to respond to situations and problems that LGBTQIAGNC members of the university community might face

To raise awareness in the university community of its collective responsibility to work against bias, prejudice, and bullying

New School Safe Zone training familiarizes allies and advocates with

Common experiences of the LGBTQIAGNC population

Commonly used LGBTQIAGNC terms

Stereotypes commonly associated with the LGBTQIAGNC population

Heterocentrism, heterosexism, transphobia and homophobia

The coming-out process

On-campus resources for LGBTQIAGNC students

External and Web-based resources for LGBTQIAGNC students

The role of a person trained in Safe Zone

Ways for non LGBTQIAGNC identified folks can further their own development as allies

The goals of the Safe Zone Program

Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Discrimination involves unfair treatment of others on the basis of their identity or category. Hate crimes are defined as violent acts against people, property, or organizations on the basis of identity, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, ability, age, class, national origin, or religious or political belief.

Bias incidents involve threatening or harassing behavior directed toward someone on the basis of his or her gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation or perceived gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Acts of bias are violations of the university Code of Conduct. These behaviors may take the form of verbal remarks, written messages, and drawings or other kinds of images. If you discover that a New School student feels she or he has been discriminated against for any reason, you should advise her or him to contact Student Rights and Responsibilities at 212.229.5349 x3653. Advise faculty or staff members who believe they have been discriminated against to contact Human Resources at 212.229.5671 x4900. Victims of hate crime should be advised to contact Campus Security 212.229.7001 (24 hours). They will be offered a range of support services, which may include assistance with filing a police report and information about medical and counseling services. The university’s policy on discrimination and related subjects can be found at www.newschool.edu/student-rights-and-responsibilities.